RICH JAMES: Good government would take major overhaul

What if Hammond had three mayors? Or Valparaiso? Or Crown Point?

EDITORIAL: Legislature must focus on unfinished work

On two issues -- sentencing reform and local government reform -- the Indiana General Assembly took a step in the right direction this year, but not far enough.

EDITORIAL: Review entire structure of county government

The Indiana General Assembly appears to be planning to take another look at the structure of county government this summer. It's a good idea.

County racing against curtain call at Opera House

VALPARAISO | The Porter County Board of Commissioners declared an emergency last week that allowed them to bypass the bidding process and hire a contractor for up to $225,000 to address water infiltration problems threatening the 119-year-old Memorial Opera House.

PHIL WIELAND: Would a vampire reality show reflect poorly on county

More real than any reality show ever seen on TV before: it's Porter County Government on Parade.

County candidates square off in forum

VALPARAISO | Candidates for contested Porter County Council and commissioner seats pretty much agreed with each other Tuesday night during a forum sponsored by the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce.

Hospital opening frees up $160 million for county

VALPARAISO | Five years after the sale of the county hospital, members of the Porter County Board of Commissioners and Council gained access Saturday to the $160 million in sale proceeds.

County could be nearing deal to extend utilities to hospital site

VALPARAISO | It looks as though the county may be nearing a deal to help fund Chesterton's effort to extend utilities south on Ind. 49 near where the new hospital is being built.

EDITORIAL: Local government reforms make sense

Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman's legislative agenda for local government reform should have been introduced earlier, for more thorough public discussion than this short session allows. However, there are elements of her plan that make sense.

Insurance costs force slash to 2012 budget

VALPARAISO | A proposed $41.8 million county general fund budget for 2012 with 2 percent raises was whittled down to $37.1 million with no raises during an almost two-hour Porter County Council meeting Thursday.

Porter County meetings

Aug. 1

Lake County tax panel trims appeals backlog

CROWN POINT | Lake County Assessor Hank Adams said the retooled Lake County Property Tax Board of Appeals already has cut a four-year-old backlog of old cases by 25 percent.

County jail medical, phone pacts up for bid

CROWN POINT | Lake County commissioners are putting two contracts to provide medical care and telephone service in the Lake County Jail up for competitive bidding in coming months.

EDITORIAL: Put jail medical care up for bid

New Lake County Sheriff John Buncich is looking to put his imprint on Lake County Jail, and that includes the medical care there.

MARK KIESLING: Transparency in government should become contagious

From federal to local levels, government was designed to have a series of checks and balances, not be given a blank check on a "trust me" handshake.

Lake panel stifles tax freeze lawsuit talk

CROWN POINT | Lake County Commissioners are postponing their threaten lawsuit against state-mandated property tax levy freeze that has spared taxpayers $60 million at the expense of local government revenues.